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They’re Back! It’s Whale Season in the Great Barrier Reef

Whale Season

The first of the humpback whales have been spotted off Queensland’s South East coast and are starting to make their way to their annual “winter break” in the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Amongst the gentle giants, all eyes will be keenly looking out for Migaloo, the famous albino humpback whale. Last year was a spectacular treat for Quicksilver, Great Adventures and Silversonic passengers who were privileged to see the “celebrity” whale frolicking off Port Douglas and Cairns in mid August.

Humpback whales are regularly sighted at the Outer Barrier Reef and Green Island, bringing an added bonus for our passengers at this time.

Humpback whales regularly migrate from Antarctic waters along the east coast of Australia every winter. They are generally seen on the Great Barrier Reef between the months of June to September as they migrate to warmer waters to mate and give birth.

Humpback whales are easily identified by having extremely large pectoral fins (their scientific name is Megaptera, which literally means giant wing), and scalloped flukes.

They grow up to approximately 16 metres in length, weighing in at 30-50 tonnes. Male humpbacks produce “songs”, which are believed to attract females at mating times.